Oshin travels: Mystical Kyoto First Day

It was around these days last summer, i had a rare opportunity to visit Kyoto. Basically, i am not that traveler type that’s why i didn’t have good initiations to record my visit. I have even almost forgotten that i have been there last year. I tossed away pictures on my mobile to my computer and forget it for a little while.

(Disclaimer: Kyoto, the first trip was kind of bad memory for me, more over it was 3 years ago, thus to recall it might be a difficult thing. Some temples/places naming and explanation may be mistaken. Not a good excuse though :D)

Might be the heat stroke did refresh my memory, i suddenly remember about my visit to Kyoto and feeling so guilty to keep it by my own. I took the 新幹線, the bullet train from Shin-Yokohama station to get Kyoto. It took about two and a half hour, such a long time to experience many things but the memory in the bullet train was not that good, so i don’t have much impression riding this bullet train which should have been my first time on board.

I have already mentioned that i am not that traveler type, so i didn’t record many detail things such as the bullet train’s ticket, what station did i pass, etc, etc. I may be mistakenly recognized my own picture with the correct name of a place or area. I was just such a random traveler :p

I know little, but im sure, i got off in Kyoto station.

Kyoto Station

It was very humid summer but when i reached Kyoto station, the weather turned into cloudy. My bad luck. Kyoto was my third city i have visited which is labeled as the cultural city. The first is Solo, second is St. Petersburg, Russia. These three cities are labeled as the center of culture in the respective countries. I found all of the three has its own characteristics. And Kyoto, its authenticity and its mystic atmosphere distinguish its characteristic from other cities.

Actually the first time I alighted from the bullet train in Kyoto Station, I wondered where is the cultural sites lie on. As you can see in the picture of Kyoto Station above, there is no clue of cultural heritage around. But once i walked around the city, there were many spots with cultural atmosphere.

Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine

Kyoto is famous for its Shrines and Temples. For its Shrines and Temples, it is also called the city of thousands shrines. Once i got off the bullet train, i could just walk for several minutes to visit shrines. One of them is Yasaka Shrine.

The mystical beauty i found in Kyoto lies in its architecture, and how they remained untouched by the modernity. They are very beautiful, very authentic.

Imagine you were here alone, take a deep breath! You are in Japan!!

Small blocks in the heart of Kyoto

Small blocks in the heart of Kyoto

Small blocks in the heart of Kyoto

Next destination is again, a shrine, namely Shimogamo Shrine. It was built 2000 years ago in the forest. It is a complex of shrines.

Shimogamo Shrine

The magic spell

I wish you happy forever after!

Next is Nanzen Temple. It is also a complex of temple. I came to this temple late afternoon, it was getting dark and some of the temple were closed so that i could only enjoy in a glance.

Nanzen Temple

Nanzen Temple

Nanzen Temple

Nanzen Temple

Irrigation in Nanzen Temple

Nanzen Temple

Nanzen Temple

Nanzen Temple

Nanzen Temple

Nanzen Temple

Nanzen Temple

Nanzen Temple

I departed from Shin-Yokohama station around 12.20 and when i reached Kyoto, it was in the late afternoon. That’s why the first day of Mystical Kyoto ends this way. I will display my gallery of Mystical Kyoto here in the blog. However, don’t expect my narration. It’s terrible. Just enjoy the pictures. 😀